Apparatus for treating ores.



PATENTBD MAY 5, 1903. f.

ANKIN.

TRBATING ORES. l

' T. L. R

A APPARATUS FOR APPLIUATION T E E H s nu 3. 0 9 1 4| R. A M

PATENTED MAY 5, 1903.

T. L. RANKIN. APPARATUS FOR TREATING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED HAR. 4.1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 727,441. f l PATBNTED MAY 5, 1903.

T. L. RANKIN.

APPARATUS POR TRBATING GRES.

APPLICATION FILED HAH.. 4, 1903.

` N0 MODEL. -u- 8 SHEETS-SHEETS.

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No. 727,441. PATLNTLD MAY 5,'1903.

- :13. L. LANKIN.

. APPARATUS POB. TRLATING oRBs.

APPLIUATION FILED 1443.4, 190s; Ho MODEL.' s SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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PATENTBD MAY 5, 1903.

T. L. RANKIN. `APIEARA'IUS POR. TREATING ORES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAE. 4, 1903.

e SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N0 MODEL.

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No. 727,441. PATBNTBD MAY 5, 190s.

T. L. RANKIN.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING GRES.

APPLIOATIoN FILED MAR. 4, V1903.

.No MODELS a SHEETS-SHEET 6.

10.727,441. PATBNTBD MAY 5,1903.

' T. L. RANKIN.

APPARATUS FOR TRBATING DRES.

`.APPLICJATION FILED MAR. 4', 1903. yH0 MODEL.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

PATENTED MAY 5, `1903.

T. L. RANKIN. APPARATUS POR TRBATING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 4,1903.

,N0 MODEL.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Ni'Th'n STATES.

VPatented May 5, 1903.

THOMAS L. RANKIN, or 'sAoKEriiARBoR, NEW YORK.

APPARAT Us`- Fo R, TREATIYNG o REIS.

SPECIFICATION fol-nung part of Letters Patent No. 727,441, dated May 5, 1903. Application led March 4, 1903. `Serial No. 146,103.` @No model.) l

To all whom, it' Wtfty concern:V

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. RAN'KiN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sacket Harbor, in the county of Jefferson and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating Orcs, of which the following is a process; and its objects are to so construct the various parts as to avoid objections heretofore experienced, especially faults which cause undue interruption or stoppage for repairs or putting in order, and to make provision for taking advantage of such conditions as have been shown by experience to be beneficialas, for instance, passing al-l of the ore through an ore-treating cylinder surrounded byacoinbustion-chamber, causing the draft or air passage through the cylinder to take thev direction in which the ore is moving and causing the heat to act with increasing intensity `as the ore progresses in the cylinder toward the furnace. Y f

To these ends the invention consists in the construction or arrangement and combina# tion of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

ln the drawings, Figurel, Sheet l, is alongitudinal side View of the apparatus, the outer shell, furnace, and foundation being` partly in section and partly broken. This figure shows the sections composing the ore-treat? ing cylinder, the carrying-wheels and connections, the end supports, the sn1oke-stack,'and' the gas-outlet pipe. Fig. 2, Sheet l, is aside View of the feed end of the cylinder'and feed and air connections. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the rear part ofthe ore-treating cylinder and feed and air connections. Fig. 4, Sheet 3, is a front view of the discharge end of the o retreating cylinder, ore-box, gas-outlet, and also shows a portion of the mantle and spring connections for supporting the overhanging front end of the cylinder. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a section taken through the line c c of Fig. l, showing the front end of the cylinder, mantle, supporting-wheels, interior wings and rabbles, and an interposed asbestos packing.

Fig. 6, sheet 4, is a sideview, partly in sec `tion and partly broken, of the iirst section of the ore-treating cylinderand surrounding combustion flue or shell and also shows in section the mantle, springs, `and supportingwheels at the discharge end, the ore-.receiving box, andinovable rabblesin the ore-cylinder.

'Figl 7, Sheet, is a sideview, partly in section, of one of-l the intermediate sections of the ore-treating cylinder, surrounding shell, and one of thecarrying-wheels to which the drive-wheel is studded. yIt also shows the flange-at one end for uniting with the preceding section and the extending wings which pass into the succeeding section,` as well as the liange for making the joint. Fig. S, Sheet 6, is a cross-section of theore-treating cylinder, taken ou the line n not' Fig. 7, and shows an end View lookingforward of the carryingwheels, drive-wheel,` pinion, sprocket-andgear connections; 'and Fig. 9, Sheet 6, is a cross-sectionof the ore-treating cylinder on the line r i of Fig. 7, showing by a face view .looking rearward the `same parts and the openings in the webV of the drive-Wheel for the passage of.combustion gases. Fig. 10, Sheet 7, shows parts of'two of the sections united at their adjoining ends by flanges and bolts and also one half of the reinforcing rim and band in depression. Fig. ll, Sheet 7, Ais a cross-section through the ore-treating cylinder on the linett u of Fig. 10 and shows by a front view the flange and bolts and both 4 halves of the reinforcing-rim studded on the Fig. l2,

ange to make a more perfect joint. Sheet 8, is a view of the rear end section of the ore f treating cylinder and surrounding shell, partly'broken and partly in section, and

IOO

or masonry of the foundation and surrounding parts.

The grate 2 of the furnace, near the front end of the apparatus, is of a size to take the requisite amount of fuel, and the doors 3 lead thereto, the construction being such that the furnace may be red crosswise. The combustion-lue 4 is shown as being formed by a shell made in halves, preferably of cast-iron, and bolted together. The pieces forming this shell may be about four feet in length and the lower half thereof bedded in the masonry, and in practice they are set with their ends far enough apart to allow for expansion, the spaces between such ends being closed by the asbestos covering ordinarily used. The smoke-stack 5, located at the rear end of the combustion-fine, is preferably set on the mason ry. The ore-treating cylinder is rotatable and composed, ordinarily, of about live sections, each eight feet in length, making a total length of forty feet, more or less. The discharge-section 6 of the ore-treating cylinder is for the greater part of its length over the furnace, and this section is preferably smooth on its outer surface, so as not to interfere with the fuel if wood be used. The section 7, which adjoins 6, and those-intervening until the smoke-stack 5 is reached are provided with ribs 8 on the outer surface, which ribs are about two and one-half inches in depth and one and one-quarterinches thick. 'lhese ribs strengthen the cylinder and cause a current of air produced by the rotation to bring down the heat from the top of the combustion-lue, so that it will circulate around the cylinder. On the section 7 is located one of `the large carrying-wheels 9, and the ribs 8 of this section make connection with such wheel. The next section 10 has its ribs 8 extending from flange to liange, while the section 11, which follows, is similar to the section 7, and its carrying-wheel 12 has the main drive 13 studded thereto. The last section 14 of the series which compose the ore-treating cylinder connects with the feed for the ore, and its ribs 8 stop somewhat short of the smoke-stack 5 in order to allow a proper draft. 'lhe overhanging feed and discharge ends are not supported entirely by the main carryingwheels 9 and 12, but have an additional support on large cast-iron mantles 15 and 16. The ,mantle l5 at the feed end of the ore-cylinder is anchored to the masonry on which the smoke-stack 5 is set, and the mantle 16 at the discharge end of the cylinder is anchored, as shown at 17, into the walls of the furnace. The m'antles, anchors, and connections at the feed and discharge ends are similar, other than an adaptation of the mantle 16 to support the ore-receiving box and gas-exit pipe at the discharge. The mantle 16 receives the rods 18, which rest on springs 19 and support the frame 20, bearings 2l, and wheels 22 beneath the overhangingend of the cylinder, thus avoiding much of the trouble experienced by the wabblingof rotatable cylinders having no such auxiliary supports at the ends. The main supports, or those which sustain the body of the ore-treating cylinder, are the large flanged wheels 23 and 24, on which the large carrying-wheels 9 and 12 rotate. The iianges of the wheels 23 and 24 are on the side toward the furnace, and the one which is nearest thereto is set an inch or two lower than the other, so that the carrying-wheel 9 will rest against the flanges of the wheels 23, and so much of the cylinder as extends to the ore-receiving box will be free to expand into that box. The portion of the cylinder which extends from the wheel 24 to the feed end will have greater expansion and be free to move the carrying-wheel 12 away from the flanges of the wheels 24.

The carrying-wheels 9 and 12 are similar in construction, being heavy wheels castv whole and prepared for being broken between their bolting-lianges 25, so as to form halves that can readily be placed around the orecylinder and bolted together when the apparatus is being set up. T-he inner periphery of the web of the Wheels 9 and 12 form a band 26, which has notches 27 cast midway on the two halves, which notches receive lugs 2S, cast on ribs 8 on the exterior of the cylinder. When the wheels 9 and 12 are bolted in place on the cylinder, they require no'keys or fastening devices to secure them. From the band 26 large spokes 29 extend out through a band 30 to the rim 31 of the wheel, and between the spokes 29 and attached to the band 30 is a heavy web 32, in which are large holes 33. On each side of the wheel a funnelshaped shield 34 is studded, which shield extends around the wheel and has projecting collars or fianges 35 extending into the combustion-flue. The mainA draft will pass between the bands 26 and 30, while a part of the heat and draft will pass above the band 30 and through the holes 33, thus heating the Wheels 9 and 12 to the outer edge, which will avoid breakage by expansion. The drive connections are made on the carrying-wheel 12 and are formed by a cog-wheel 36, having a rim 37 and an annular inside iange 38, wide enough for securing to the wheel 12 by studs 39. (Best seen in Fig. 9, Sheet 6.) The cogwheel 36 is cast whole and slipped over the IOO IIO

section of the cylinder and then studded to the shield 34 and carrying-wheel 12. The pinion 40 connects with a source of power through the sprocket 4l and by its connection with the cog-wheel 36 imparts mot-ion thereto and rotates the ore-treating cylinder.

The feed end of the ore-cylinder is supported by the mantle 15 and its connections already described, and the feed takes place by introducing the ore into the hopper 42, which leads it tothe screw conveyer 43. This screw conveyer is contained in a pipe 44, which enters a larger pipe 45, connecting with the interior of the cylinder by a suitable stufng-box 46. The pipe 44, containing the screw conveyer, projects into the cylinder '58 and the shorter wings or plates 59.

about three'inches beyond the end of the pipe 45, so as to allow for expansion of the cylinder, and is located near the top of such pipe, so as to leave room for an air-inlet pipe 47, which enters the pipe 45 below the conveyer-pipe 44. The air-inlet pipe 47 terminates just inside of the head 48, through which the pipe 44 also enters the pipe 45, and the air may be introduced under pressure, the arrangement being such as to permit the air to circulate freely through all parts of the ore-treating cylinder and come in contact with the ore under treatment. The feed-screw or conveyer 43 receives its motion through connections with its shaft 49 and pulleys 50, and the hopper, feed-pipe, screw-shaft, and pulleys are supported at their outer end by the base-plates 5l, which rest on springs 52, having half bail-bearings on the rods 53, passing through the plates 51, all of which parts are supported by a suitable casting or foundation 54. These connections for supporting the outer end of the feed-pipe, dac., are designed to counteract the lateral and vertical motion of the end of the cylinder, which is itself supported by the mantle and connections already described. The head 55 at the feed end of the cylinder is suitably fitted and studded onto such end and may be provided with holes for the passage of rods 56, connecting with movable rabbles 57, placed between the inwardly-extending wings 58 and 59, which form ore-treating plates inside of the cylinder. The rods 56 are intended to be used or not, as desired, for shifting the position of the rabbles 57 endwise. The rabbles 57 set fiat on the lifting side of the treatingplates 58 and 59 when such plates reach a horizontal. position, as seen in Fig. 5, Sheet 3. These rabbles slide when going over the top of the cylinder and are allowed suicient play to tumble and have an angular form, which adapts them to the spaces between the longer wings or plates The rabbles 57 are formed so as to incline or angle toward the discharge end of the furnace, and they may be set on their connecting-bars at any desired angle which will enable them to move the ore through the cylinder in the time required for treatment-say from fifteen to fifty minutes, the lat-ter time usually being sufficient to treat any refractory ore. The rabbles 57 are made narrower as they approach the periphery ofthe cylinder, so that the ore in falling from the treating-plates above may pass over this part of the rabbles and gain a forward movement to whatever point the rabbles are inclined, and this narrowing of the rabbles permits free air circulation at the periphery of the cylinder between the treating-plates. The rabbles lnay all extend twelve or fifteen feet within the cylindex-,at which point the ore will be thoroughly dried and prevented from packing, and two sets of rabbles may extend the entire length of the cylinder, as shown. Inside of the feed-end head 55 of the cylinder is a loose short shell 60, having small spiral flanges 61, and this shell when slipped into the end of the cylinder is sufliciently tight to remain in position and rotate with the cylinder. The spiral flanges 6l on the interior of the shell 60 serve the purpose of conveying any dust or ore that may accumulate around the feed-pipe 44 onto the rabbles and treating-plates, which will pass it forward in the cylinder. The longer treating-plates or wings 58 and the shorter ones 59, which form alternating series within the cylinder, are cast heavier where they connect with the periphery of the cylinder than at their inner termini. The longer plates 58 extend nearer to the center, but leave space at the center and between their termini, and the shorter plates 59 extend inwardly far enough to leave about the same space between their termini and the longer plates that vthere is between the longer plates at their termini. This arrangement allows the ingress and egress of ore and air to be about equal in all parts of the cylinder. The treating-plates 58 and 59 extend at one end of each section, so as to overlap the joint made with the next section of the cylinder and join ends with the wings in such adjoining section, the parts being turned off on the outer edge and calipered to fit closely in the connecting end of the adjoining section, which is also turned to receive them. This projection of the treating-plates from one section into another to meet the plates of such section gives greater rigidity to the joint and relieves the strain on the bolts 62, which pass through the flanges 63. The adjoining ends of the sections` are also united by a male end 64, which fits into a corresponding depression 65, of about onehalf inch, made in the ne'Xt section. The joint between the sections composing the orecylinder are also reinforced by a cast-iron clamp 66, which is fitted closely over the flanges 63. The clamps for the joints are made in halves, which are studded on one side at lthe middle by studs 67 and at each end on the opposite side by studs 68, so that there may be no drawing in opposite directions when expansion takes place. The clamps 66 have an annular depression 69 running around them, and a wrought-iron band 70 rests in this depression. 70 has tapering overlapping ends, which may be studded to the clamp. The clamp 66 and band 70, form a strong support for the joint, which relieves the strain on the bolts 62 through the flanges 63. The clamps being on the outside of the cylinder and nearer the heat passing through the combustion-line, they will of course expand as much as the ianges to which they are studded.

The discharge end of theore-treating cylinder is partly closed by a baffling-head 7l, which is smaller than the cylinder, soas to leave an annular space or opening 72 of about one and one-halfinches, through which the gases escape into the ore-box 73 The band IOD IIO

and from thence to the gas-escape pipe 74, while the ore falls down through the same opening and passes out through the discharge 75. The discharge end of the cylinder .fits loosely in the ore-box and may expand therein. The discharge end of the cylinderis provided with a non-conducting band 76, which has projections or lugs about one inch in depth to hold it from the cylinder, and the space between this band and the cylinder is filled with asbestos packing 77, so that the heat will not act unduly on the wheels 22, which support this end of the cylinder, as before described.

It is obvious that changes in details may be made in some or all of the parts thus described Awithout changing their character or functions, and consequently come within the purview and scope of the invention as above set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylinder provided with ore-treating surfaces formed by two series of long and short inwardly-extending wings, the-wings of the shorter series being made to alternate with those of the longer series, and to terminate far enough from the center of the cylinder to leave spaces between them and the adjacent longer Wings, about equal to the spaces between the inner termini of the longer wings, substantially as described.

2; In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylinder provided with inwardly-extending wings forming ore-treating surfaces, in combination with looserabbles in the spaces between such win gs, said rabbles being inclined to move the ore forward, and also adapted to tumble and slide, as the cylinder rotates, from the surface of one wing to that of another, whereby the ore may be moved through the cylinder, broughtin contact with the treatingsurfaces and agitated to prevent packing and allow circulation of air through the ore under treatment, substantially as described.

3. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylinder provided with inwardly-extending wings forming ore-treating surfaces, in combination with means for moving the ore forward in said cylinder, means for feeding the ore through a pipe to the cylinder, a loose shell in the feed end of the cylinder, said shell being adapted to rotate therewith,and provided on its interior with spirals'for moving such ore and dust as may accumulate .around the feed-pipe into the cylinder, substantially as described.

4. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylinder provided with inwardly-extending wings forming ore-treating surfaces,-in combination with means for moving the ore forward in said cylinder and means for feeding theore thereto, the feed comprising a short pipe and stuffing-box connections at the end of Vthe cylinder, a feed-pipe and screw conveyer therein and passed through the same so as to project beyond the inner end of said short pipe, an air-inlet pipe entering said short pipe and a hopper leading to said screw conveyer, substantially as described.

5. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylinder provided with ore-treating surfaces, in combination with means `for feeding the ore thereto, comprising a hopper, feed-pipe and screw conveyer entering one end of said i cylinder, and shaft-andpulley connections for rotating, said conveyer, the same being supported on springs and half ball-bearings, whereby said feed mechanism may remain unaffected by the jarring of said cylinder, substantially as described.

6. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable `cylinder provided with inwardly-extending wings forming ore-treating' surfaces, in combination with means for feeding the ore thereto at one end, means for moving the ore through said cylinder, a baffling-plate at the discharge end of said cylinder, such plate being smaller in diameter than the cylinder and arranged to leave an annular space for the exit of the ore and gases, and means for conducting the gases in one direction and the ore in another, substantially as described.

. 7. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylinder having ore-treating surfaces therein, in combination with means for feeding the pre to said cylinder, means for moving the ore through the cylinder, means for supporting the discharge end thereof, andja heat-nonconducting band at said discharge end,'sub stantially as described.

8. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylindercomposed ofsections united together, the connecting ends of the adjoining sections being flanged and bolted, in combination with a reinforcing-clamp made in halves, and studded tothe flanges at the middle of said halves on one side and at the ends of the halves on the opposite side of the Iianges, the halves of said clamp being provided with a depression, and, a band placed therein, said band being overlapped at its ends and studded to said clamp, substantially as described.

9. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylinder provided With inwardly-extending wings forming ore-treating surfaces, said cylinder being composed of sections united together, the wings of one section being fitted and projected into the end of the adjoining section for giving rigidity to the joint by which said sections are united, substantially as described.

10. In ore-roasting apparatus, a rotatable cylinder provided with inwardly-extending wings forming ore-treating surfaces, said cylinder being composed of sections having iianged ends bolted together, the lwings of one section being fitted and projected into the end of the adjoining section, in combination with a reinforcing-band studded to the flanges forming the joint, substantially as described.

IIO

ll. In ore-roasting apparatus a furnace and combustion-flue, a rotatable cylinder therein, through which the ore is passed for treatment, said cylinder being provided with exterior ribs, a carrying-wheel formed in halves bolted together and tted to said cylinder,V in combination with lugs on theribs of the cylinder, depressions on the carrying-Wheel fitting said lugs, the outer rirn of said Wheel being provided with an annular shield having flanges projecting into the combustion-chamber, and holes in the web ot said carrying-Wheel for allowing the gases to pass through and come in contact With the outer rim of said wheel, substantially as described.

12. In ore-roasting apparatus,a furnace and combustion-flue, a rotatable cylinder therein, said cylinder being provided with exterior ribs having lugs thereon, in combination with one or more carryingwheels having an inner band itted to the exterior of said cylinder, spokes from said inner band to an outer band,

cylinder in combination With carrying-Wheels supporting the main body thereof, the ends of said cylinder being supported by mantles having spring connections and 'tension for sustaining the same and permitting rotation thereof, substantially as described.

' THOMAS L. RANKIN. Vitnesses:

ARTHUR C. MANDEL, EDWARD M. BLIVEN. 

